Speeding cheat police authority boss facing jail

Dave McLuckie, who was once in charge of Cleveland Police Authority, was convicted of perverting the course of justice yesterday following a trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

It can now be revealed the 52-year-old, of Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, has also been charged with witness intimidation and will be back in court on Friday.

McLuckie was vice-chairman of the authority and on the verge of taking on the senior role when his black Peugeot was caught by a speed camera doing 36mph in a 30mph zone at Calin How, Cleveland, in 2005.

With nine points already on his licence he faced a ban after the latest offence and so asked family friend Maurice Ward, who lived nearby in Skelton, Cleveland, to do him a “big favour” and take the blame, the jury was told.

The trial heard McLuckie told his friend, within earshot of Mr Ward’s wife Nancy, a ban would affect his chances of becoming police authority chairman.

McLuckie, a member of Redcar and Cleveland Council who works at a potash mine, was exposed in a note written by Mr Ward from his deathbed after the pair fell out.

Their relationship “soured” after Mr Ward fell ill with cancer in 2007 and felt McLuckie had not visited him enough in hospital, the court heard.

Before the father-of-two died from the disease, he wrote a note detailing what he did for McLuckie but his widow did not open it until after he died, jurors were told.

Mr Ward also told other members of the family what he had done before he died last January, the court heard.

After his death, his daughter Donna contacted a local councillor, who took the matter to police and McLuckie was arrested.

He denied perverting the course of justice but was convicted after a week-long trial.

McLuckie claimed the speeding points allegation made by Mr Ward was “motivated by malice”.

He accepted he might well have been driving the car, but he had discussed the matter with Mr Ward and they had agreed his friend had been driving the car at the time.

Judge David Wood warned the points cheat that a jail term is likely when he is sentenced next month.

McLuckie, who did not react to the verdict, was bailed for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

He stepped down from his position at the police authority in May 2011 after a criminal probe was launched into alleged corruption at Cleveland Police.

Before the jury was sent out, officers behind the Operation Sacristy investigation revealed McLuckie had been charged with intimidating a witness last month.

He will appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Speaking after yesterday’s verdict, Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Tom Blenkinsop urged him to resign from his role as Labour councillor for the Skelton ward.

“No one is above the law, and that applies to every elected politician and public servant,” Mr Blenkinsop said.

“The Labour Party should not – and will not – tolerate this type of illegal behaviour.

“With a jury finding Councillor McLuckie guilty of an extremely serious offence and the judge warning he faces a likely prison sentence, I am repeating my previous calls for him to resign as a Skelton ward councillor.

“He must do this as a matter of urgency. The people of Skelton and East Cleveland must come first. They expect and deserve far better.”